This week the focus of the project is streaming video files to my internet connected TV downstairs from my PC upstairs. Thankfully this week I will not have to fumble with Apple devices and their over the top walled garden approach to containing their technology in check. My TV downstairs is fairly new, we purchased it early this year. Besides watching regular TV and running Netflix on it, I have yet to really test its streaming capabilities.
To start off, I began researching what I could use to stream videos to the TV and found this guide:
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/connect-pc-samsung-smart-hub-72573.html
It seemed to easy to be true and while I did connect to the PC, I was unable to view my videos as I could not access the folder since it was not in the default folder for streaming on the PC. I continued my search on Google and came across a few suggestions to just convert .mkv files to something the TV could easily play, but that is too much effort for something that is supposed to be easy: streaming video. A few searches and forum visits later, I found out that there is an app for the TV called Plex. The program also runs on the PC and creates a seamless and easy integration experience, or so they claim.
https://plex.tv/
I installed the server program on the PC first, very easy to install and has a simple interface.
To start off, I began researching what I could use to stream videos to the TV and found this guide:
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/connect-pc-samsung-smart-hub-72573.html
It seemed to easy to be true and while I did connect to the PC, I was unable to view my videos as I could not access the folder since it was not in the default folder for streaming on the PC. I continued my search on Google and came across a few suggestions to just convert .mkv files to something the TV could easily play, but that is too much effort for something that is supposed to be easy: streaming video. A few searches and forum visits later, I found out that there is an app for the TV called Plex. The program also runs on the PC and creates a seamless and easy integration experience, or so they claim.
https://plex.tv/
I installed the server program on the PC first, very easy to install and has a simple interface.
Unfortunately, I did have to create a user account with their service, for reasons I cannot explain since I am trying to only stream within my house and not over the internet. But, if it allows streaming to the TV over my home network, then I shall try to not complain too much.
I set up the server, which uses a browser interface (Firefox/Chrome/etc) for navigation. Loaded up a folder with .mkv files and was surprised at how quickly it synced and even displayed an image for one of my folders.
I set up the server, which uses a browser interface (Firefox/Chrome/etc) for navigation. Loaded up a folder with .mkv files and was surprised at how quickly it synced and even displayed an image for one of my folders.
Knowing that the files were at least recognized and hopefully on the home server, I headed downstairs hoping I would not have to go back up for minor adjustments.
Finding the Plex app on the Samsung app store was easy and free.
Finding the Plex app on the Samsung app store was easy and free.
After launching, setting up the connection to the PC did require a trip or 2 upstairs to input a couple of codes, but the process was not too painful. Once the account was registered and connected, the server was easily found. Unfortunately, the menus were confusing and I was unable to find things easily at first.
Once I figured out that all I had to do was hit enter (trial and error), I was taken to a hierarchical file structure similar to those found on PCs. There I was able to access my videos.
I found my files but then encountered something interesting, there were different ways to stream the file. Direct play, direct stream, or transcoding. I know transcoding is NOT what I wanted, as that takes significant computer resources. After a little research on play/stream (https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200250387-Streaming-Media-Direct-Play-and-Direct-Stream), the different is minor and relies on whether or not the TV supports the file container (.mkv in this case). After attempting both modes I was able to successfully play an HD video file in both 720p and 1080p.
There was some blocking and some visual artifacts in the video, but overall the quality was actually a lot better than I expected. I am going to assume that the only reason the playback went so smoothly was because there was nothing else connected to my wifi connection to take up any bandwidth. Hopefully I can find a way to attach networked storage to my network and not need the PC to be running as it is quite the energy hog.